aprii 10 .2 0 0 2 '
iustrrm
COMMENTARY
in J im H a d o s i a
■ m The IN publication for the O UT population
F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown
Vol. 2 0 N o. 12
and
R enée L a C hance
A p r il 1 8 , 2 0 0 3
FEATURE
WAR ANO PEACE: Sexual minorities community
reacts to the conflict in Iraq
P 26
NEWS
NORTHWEST • Labor commissioner promises
crackdown on workplace discrimination;
Eugene lesbian reflects on years of disability
activism; scholarship recipient still advocates
for equal rights; Lou Gehrig’s disease ends
34-year relationship; Bad Kitty java isn’t your
average cup of joe; spiritual leaders mobilize
for “ex-gay” conference
pp
8 -2 1
NOTIONAL • Utah court favors lesbian teacher
pp 2 2 - 2 3
WORLD • Mexican lesbians march
pp 2 4 - 2 5
ARTS AND CU LTU RE
MUSIC • Queer musician Tamara J. Brown digs
that Portland scene; Honey is sweet. Flare is hot
pp 3 6 - 3 7
PEOPLE • Groundbreaking lesbian comic tells all
p 39
ROOKS • Gay author picks over the movies
pp 4 0 - 4 1
CULTURE • Smash some scales and kiss a fat girl
p 43
DIVERSIONS • Wild Abandon celebrates
anniversary; Middlesex wins Pulitzer Prize
p 44
WHAT’S POPPIN’ T • Acclaimed documentarían
revisits Stevie
P 45
FILMS • High Art director’s second film is as
good as the first
p 47
COLUMNS
M S. BEHAVIOR • Breakin’ up is hard to do
p 35
EPIQUEEREAN • Just desserts
p 38
OUT WITH IT! • Closets are for clothes
P 48
THE GOSPEL ACCORIING TO MARC • Kid stuff
P 49
ju s t ou t 1« p ublish ed on the first an d th ird PH-
d ap • t each m onth. Copyright C 2001 by Just Out. N o part
Peace is just a word
A pre-emptive confession: I am about to commit a cardinal sin of journalism
y name is Jim Radosta, and I am a pacifist.
oppose the war, but I’m finally beginning to understand how easy it is
I realize this isn’t the most profound statement for a
to make that leap of faith.
liberal Portlander to make, hut for a journalism gradu
ate who prides himself on the quest for impartiality
he interconnectedness of all oppression is so blatantly represented
JL
^
- J L and truth, it’s tantamount to a surgeon general dis
in the Bush administration: The sexism of stripping women of con
cussing masturbation. It could get you fired!
trol of their uteri (while luring oblivious soccer moms by the millions).
Fortunately, I work for a queer newspaper. And, as I’m just now
The racism of eliminating ethnic consideration in college admissions
beginning to comprehend— thanks to artists like Todd Haynes and
(while fooling the masses by publicly scolding the racist Senate majori
experiences like Creating Change 2002— “queer” does not necessarily
ty leader). The homophobia of doling out taxpayer dollars to discrimi
have to refer to genital contact. It can refer to any alternative perspec
natory churches for their hypocritically “humanitarian” causes (while
tive on mainstream culture. The late great Harry Hay believed it indi
lying to the world about an A ID S spending hike that never will come
cated a higher state of being; after all, we queers have the supernatural
to fruition).
ability to love anyone, regardless of gender.
So you met with a dozen fags on the campaign trail, and your
Well, I hope I’m not going out on a limb here, but I’d say this
veep’s daughter is a dyke? Bra-vo! So your wife is pro-choice but keeps
absolves me of the need for silence in certain circumstances. Besides,
her mouth shut? Bra-vo! So you’re pals with Colin, Condoleezza and
queer newspapers already take the “biased” position that gay, lesbian,
Vincente? Bra-vo! Welcome to the 20th century, mr. president. The
bi and trans people deserve to be treated equally. In Texas, that type of
rest of us have advanced to the 21st.
presumption will land you in jail.
Or maybe we haven’t. Conformist patriots mock Iraq for its “state-
Within the confines of these pages, alas, I’m safe.
controlled Al-Jazeera media,” claiming, “They teach
So I have no shame in adding another handicap to
their children to hate us!” Excuse me, but are you
Here, journalists can
my score: Despite my role as News Editor of Just
aware of the F C C ’s existence? Do you realize many
Out, I must come forth about my disgust for the
express their passion for U .S. teachers would lose their jobs if they dared
dangerous path our president is taking us down.
show compassion for Iraqis in the classroom? Now
peace without having to you tell me which nation is the dictatorship.
pnestly, until the bombs started dropping fa ll over themselves in the
And guess what? I’m not even done yet!
.]March 19, I was patient with my fellow Ameri
The injustice of handing environmental regula
impossible pursuit o f
cans. I could empathize, however faintly, with the
tion over to polluters. The absurdity of fueling a
post-traumatic stress disorder from which we were suf
war on drugs while turning a blind eye to the
"objectivity" on this issue futile
fering. I could see the anti-Bush learning curve slowly
failing public school system (too intellectual), the
turning in our direction.
inevitable Social Security crisis (too eventual) and
But I’ve lost my patience. I no longer expect a slow learning curve
the straight HIV epidemic (too...hom osexual).
from U .S. citizens. I expect a steep— no, make that perpendicular—
And, last but not least, the sheer obsolescence of corporate-
axis turn. An axis of upheaval, if you will.
controlled media— a back-scratching machine that serves purely to
So where is it? If this is the wake-up call the country needed, does
misinform, a village that needs to be destroyed in order to be saved.
anybody have their ringers turned on? Or are we screening our calls,
Thankfully, I do not live in this village. I live one town over the
afraid to take a risky stance for fear of alienating our colleagues, friends
rainbow— in La-La-Lavender Land.
and loved ones?
Here, journalists can express their passion for peace without having
When I see brave celebrities like Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn,
to fall over themselves in the impossible pursuit of “objectivity” on
Martin Sheen and the Dixie Chicks (of all people!) get shouted down
this issue. You want some objectivity? Here goes: N o link between
for speaking the truth— that we oughta be ashamed of ourselves for
9/11 and Iraq; a war on terrorism launched by a terrorist nation; and a
letting the White House get this far— I realize it’s worth the risk to
massive military industrial complex, homy for missile strikes at all
come out against the war. When I see once-decent Democrats too
costs.
chicken to be the voice of opposition— a job they were hired to do, if
The day after cops clashed with peaceful protesters downtown, I
I’m not mistaken— I realize it’s worth the risk. When I see the Port
walked home from work during a downpour, glaring at the SU V s
land City Council nix an anti-war resolution but unanimously rubber-
splashing past me, staring at the overwhelming volume of oil running
stamp an admirable but ultimately meaningless “we support our
down the gutters along with the rain. I immediately envisioned the
troops” letter, I realize it’s worth the risk.
blood running down the streets of Baghdad.
I am grateful for the existence of organizations like Out Against the
Clearly, there is only one stance I can take in good conscience. J H
War and Pride at Work Oregon for giving queers an avenue to chan
nel their dissent. I still believe it’s wrong to presume that all queers
JlM RADOSTA is the News Editor at Just Out.
T
H
■mm mmt p > ■
mm
«am «
of Just Out may he reproduced without written permission from
the publisher.
mm
years ago in
i
• in Other Words feminist bookstore has rid itself of a major
obstacle to accessibility for physically disabled patrons. In
early March a group of volunteers embarked upon a lull
dismantling of a restrictive platform.
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5
a n t Wk ■ N T *
REFLECTIONS
• Researchers are taking a closer look at Oregon's S /M
community and documenting the politics of identity.
• The city of Vancouver will extend employee benefits to
domestic partners starting May 1.
• Lonotime local politico and Portland City Commissioner
Gretcnen Miller Kafoury has been named the recipient of
this year's Bill and Ann Shepherd s Award. She will
receive the honor during the second annual Shepherd's
Award Dinner, slated for May 1.
N E W ! EDITOR
• Jim Radosta
ARTS ANO CULTURE EDITOR
FEATURES EDITOR
• Timothy Krause
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
CONTRIBUTORS
• Lisa Bradshaw
• Marie Fleischmann
• Marc Acito, Kathy Beige,
*
• The American Foundation for AIDS Research has begun
recruitment for the first clinical trial of combination therapy for
hepatitis C among those who are also HIV-positive. The 18-
month study will involve 200 patients at 20 sites around the
nation, including Portland.
• Galloway and Luckett perform one last time in Portland before
they set out on their No Frills nationwide tour.
• Join the Lesbian Community Project, Suzanne Pharr.
Pruett, Angela W ilson, Darlene Lambos and Jack from
rag on Lon Mabon.
• Join the Portland Gay Men's Choru6 and the Gay Men's
Chorus of San Diego lor Swellegent Elegance, their tribute to
Cole Porter.
Jamie Bolyard, Michael Burdick, Meryl Cohn,
Susan Detroy, Christopher McQuain,
ADVERTISING ASSISTANT
Gary Morris, TJ Norris, Catherine Sameh,
Floyd Sklaver, Jack Turteltaub, Rex Wockner
PM B H C T10N ASSISTANT
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
• Larry Lewis
ADVERTISING R P R E S S nA TlV E
• Markie Acevedo
G R A M M B H iC TO R
OFFICE MANAGER
• Erin Sexton
• Kevin Moore
• Zanne dejanvier
• Marie Fleischmann
• Kristine Ashton, Dana Corbin,
Ian Drake, Mary Hauer, Crash Schwartz
O ISTRIRUnO N
to